Group to Ask Selinger to Raise Rent Allowance with Valentine

The Social Planning Council of Winnipeg plans to make a statement on Thursday as they deliver Valentine’s Day cards to Premier Greg Selinger.

The cards will ask Selinger to “have a heart” and raise the Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) rent allowance to decrease the poverty rate in the province.

“The allowance has increased only marginally since 1992 while rents have gone up 60-70% leaving EIA recipients to fill a gap that ranges from $200-$600, depending on the number of bedrooms required,” the non-profit organization said in an e-mail.

Members will converge on the front steps of the Manitoba legislature at 12:30 p.m. to make their statement.